Having looked over most of the Talent Trees I still find that to many seem mandatory up front. Either that or you're forced to include to many Talent Points in a Tree to further your progress to the bottom.

I feel that perhaps even less points should be awarded, but also less points are needed per Tier.

OR (this one is probably broken) when you choose your Tree to specialize in all Talent points placed then go towards unlocking that Tree's Tiers.

In other words if you have 13 Points in Balance, you can place 2 in Resto to get the 15 needed to progress down the Tree. Though that would mean people could Spec Balance, have Resto talents and still get Starfall.

Perhaps the lower Tiers should cost lower Points, and the most powerful still require more.